HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Resolution 03-054
RESOLUTION NO. 03-054
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SARATOGA
RELATING TO THE USA PATRIOT ACT AND THE PROTECTION OF
CIVIL RIGHTS AND LffiERTIES OF SARATOGANS
WHEREAS, the City of Saratoga is a diverse community composed of persons of
different ancestries, races, ethnic or national origins, colors, ages, genders, sexual orientations,
religions, physical and mental capabilities, economic circumstances and political backgrounds and
views; and
WHEREAS, all members of tills community are governed by and enjoy certain
fundamental rights granted under the United States Constitution, including the Bill of Rights and
the California State Constitution; and
WHEREAS, these fundamental rights are threatened whenever law enforcement actions
are based on extreme interpretations of laws that were ultimately intended for the limited purpose
of protecting these fundamental rights; and
WHEREAS, the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools
Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 ("USA Patriot Act") was signed into
law on October 26, 2001 with the stated purpose to enable law enforcement officials to track
down and punish those responsible for the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade
Center in New York City and to protect against any similar attacks; and
WHEREAS, given the length and breadth of such acts, concerns have been raised that
their language and that of Executive Orders interpreting such acts, might result in overzealous
enforcement of its provisions in derogation of the fundamental rights of all Americans, including
the members of this community; and
WHEREAS, the City of Saratoga adheres to the principal that no law enforcement
agency, or any other City agency, may profile or discriminate against any person solely on the
basis of ancestry, race, ethnic or national origin, color, age, sexual orientation, gender, physical or
mental disability, religion, political views, or economic circumstances; and
WHEREAS, the City of Saratoga wants to recognize the commitment it has to uphold the
legal and human rights of its residents; and
WHEREAS, other communities around the County have passed similar resolutions
reinforcing local efforts to support and defend the legal and human rights of their residents; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the governing body of the City of
Saratoga that it has been, and remains, firmly committed to the protection of civil rights and civil
liberties for all of its residents, to the equal treatment of all its residents, regardless of their
ancestry, race, ethnic or national origin, color, age, sexual orientation, religion, physical or mental
disability, economic circumstances, political background or views, and affirms its commitment to
embody democracy and to embrace, defend and uphold the inalienable rights and fundamental
liberties granted under the United States Constitution and the California State Constitution; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that local law enforcement continue to preserve and
uphold residents' freedom of speech, assembly, association, and privacy, the right to counsel and
due process in judicial proceedings, and protection from unreasonable searches and seizures, even
if requested to do otherwise and infringe upon such rights by Federal or State law enforcement
agencies acting under new powers created by the USA Patriot Act or by Executive Order; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that our Federal legislative delegation is petitioned to
actively monitor the implementation of the USA Patriot Act and any new legislation or related
Executive Order, and actively work for the repeal of those portions that violate the guaranteed
civil liberties enumerated in the Bill of Rights; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that upon passage, the City Clerk shall deliver this
Resolution to all Federal and State law enforcement agencies, the Governor's office, and to the
California F ederallegislative delegation_
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Saratoga City Council, State of California, this 3rd day of
September 2003, by the following vote:
AYES:
Councilmember Stan Bogosian, Kathleen King, Norman Kline,
Vice Mayor Ann Waltonsmtih, Mayor Nick Streit
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
Nick Streit, Mayor
fI\rEST:
( twshx ,.,---~-
~en Boyer, . . y Cle(